Pencil This In

READING: Jonathan Franzen reads at the Bam Cafe tonight, but not after a buffet that include wine from the Pine Ridge Winery and other treats. There will also be a live acoustic performance and a Q&A with Franzen.

The hefty price tag includes dinner, wine, tax, and tip.

6:30pm // BAM Cafe [30 Lafayette Ave, Brooklyn] // $45

THEATER: The first annual FRIGID Festival is breaking ice in the East Village at the Kraine, the Red Room, and Under St. Marks; its mission is to highlight experimental theatre in the months before the Fringe Festival. FRIGID is an unjuried festival, which means that the shows aren't vetted by a panel. This kind of thing can be a real crapshoot, but at $14 a ticket it’s worth a roll of the dice. (Read previews of the shows here.) Tonight’s possible high rollers include, at 6pm, We Call Her Benny by Suzanne Bachner and, at 10:30, The Peculiar Utterance of the Day by Tom X. Chao. Since both shows are in the same building, you may even want to double down. - John Del Signore

Various Times // Horse Trade Theaters // Tickets cost $14

MUSIC: Todd P brings Magik Markers, Dan Deacon and Bark Haze to Silent Barn tonight. Silent Barn is also known as Raven's Den which is also known as Club Krib. Such is the mystery behind the DIY venues and Todd P shows. You'll find the address below though. Did we mention that Bark Haze is really Thurston Moore (and Gown, aka Andrew Macgregor)?

8pm // 915 Wyckoff Ave @ Hancock, Brooklyn // $8

The Friction show has moved over to The Delancey (after holding court at the soon to be closed Sin-e), but there's still free Sparks! Tonight the lineup goes a little somethin' like this: Plastic Little, Vampire Weekend, Dreamburger. The fourth band, Holy Fuck, had to pull out due to another commitment tomorrow...but the show will go on!

8pm // The Delancey [168 Delancey St] // $10